With this article, I am trying to tell my readers (who are consumers of both, gaming and cinema) about why games now feel fewer games and more like watching movies. Less stuff we can do with and more cinematic where the game has already planned what's going to happen and told us what you must do. 'We have a story for that.'
Games now feel like watching a movie.
Thanks to Game Quitters. I am on the way to quitting games. But here is something I feel about the gaming industry and putting my thoughts on paper.
The Gaming Shift
Shift towards more of high visuals. Especially by triple-A titles. It's like their priority has now changed from making a tool and fun into providing an experience just like Cinema does now.
I can't comment on stories (for spoilers reasons and also) I think the situation isn't the same here as Bollywood. Writing is I believe, even improved now a lot. And also, recently E3 meeting (The Electronic Entertainment Expo, commonly referred to as E3, is a premier trade event for the video game industry) more than half of the games were Action and Adventures.
But when primary focus on visuals, and even in just some distinct genera. The way of storytelling gets narrower — ways to tell stories to get declined.
I get it. You don't play for stories (Example - Minecraft). Even if you are from India (like me), you don't care about the story at all and will skip them whenever you get the opportunity, which is underutilizing the games.
But if you have played any recent game, you probably have played high graphics cinematic action and adventure games. Which is now becoming mainstream genera.
And the gaming industry (or any industry) should never have any specific genera. This causes a ripple effect.
Understanding The Ripple Effect.
The continuing and spreading results of an event or action.
For example, if action games are those games that actually sell, think of it from the perspectives of independent developers.
Independent developers are also independent of money. They need to make some to keep the lights on at their studio. And when they see it's the action genre games that performing well. They will create another action game.
There is inherently nothing wrong about it as per economics, and you supply what demand is. But at the end of the day, we get a portfolio like current where there are more than 70% games of action genera. Giving no choice to hardcore gamers but to play them.
The problem with triple-A studios is they are too big to do high-risk projects. Just like any big company, as a company gets from, it's hatching stage into a developed one. Their founders have to become more conservative.
How Can It Be Improved?
If you are a game developer, please explore another genre. Remember, you didn't, in the first place, get into developing games to follow a safe pattern.
Games are meant to be a tool that players can use it; however, they want to play it. An example that comes in my mind can be PlayerUnknown's Battle Ground; any player can play like; however, they want to play.
You can play aggressively and run towards all sounds of fire you hear. Or you could (like me) get an AWP in there and hide in grasses. And there is no restriction during gameplay. You can easily change between your strategy in the middle of the game. Want to become more aggressive? Get two akm. And you are good to go.
Another example is the SIMs series by EA. Choose your careers and hairstyles. Choose whether you want to be a superstar of a footballer. You can even have two brothers where one is a star cop, and another is mastermind criminal — happily having dinner after work at night.
If you are a gamer, consider giving a shot to less famous games. Indie games like Undertale, Stardew Valley, and Shovel Knight. Consider giving it a try. Take a break from your regular games. You are playing games to explore new dimensions. Not to maintain uniformity in video games. That's what we are fighting here.
You are also contributing to supporting people who dare to make new games. Other than mainstream.
I am now an ex-gamer, but I do care about the gaming industry. And that's why I find it is vital to spread awareness.
Thank you for reading. It means a lot to me.
Chetneet Chouhan
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Photo by Florian Olivo on Unsplash
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